For us, like many of the visitors we encountered on our trip to New Zealand, Auckland was the starting point of an island or country long adventure. We spent two days in Auckland before setting off on a 3 week long tour covering the length of the country. The first day was spent exploring the city itself and the second, on the nearby island of Waiheke, situated in the Hauraki Gulf, just 13 miles away. Here is my pick of the top 10 things to do on a visit to Auckland.
How to get to Auckland
There are direct flights to Auckland from 23 countries, mainly in Asia and the Middle East. You can’t fly direct from Europe. We opted to fly to Auckland via the USA and Fiji. Auckland Airport is 13 miles south of the city. There is an airport shuttle bus; the SkyDrive Airport Express bus runs from the airport to Sky City in central Auckland approximately every 30 minutes. The journey into town takes around 45 minutes and costs $20.
I fell in love with New Zealand before we even landed. This was a combination of the view out of plane window as we approached, plus the generous amount of wine distributed by the lovely Air New Zealand crew.
Getting around Auckland
We explored Auckland on foot, following a route which was around 5 km in total. On our second day, we took a ferry to Waiheke. Here, it is possible to take the Hop-on-hop-off Explorer Bus to various points of interest around the island (for a price of $60). We opted to purchase regular bus tickets and create our little hop on hop off bus tour, disembarking at a couple of points along the way (price; $2-3 per bus).
Where to stay in Auckland
We stayed in an apartment; Victoria Street Apartments because our original hotel cancelled our reservation. This increased the cost somewhat, but it was very conveniently located and we were glad to have access to a washing machine.
Auckland: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | No 1 – Admire the view from the Sky Tower |
| 2 | No 2 – Take a stroll round Aotea Square |
| 3 | Enjoy the art at Auckland Art Gallery |
| 4 | Wander through Albert Park |
| 5 | Walk along Queen’s Wharf |
| 6 | Enjoy the vibe in Viaduct Harbour |
| 7 | Relax in the Wynyard Quarter |
| 8 | Take a ferry to Waiheke Island |
| 9 | Explore Waiheke Island on a Bus Tour |
| 10 | Drink wine at Goldie Estate |
No 1 – Admire the view from the Sky Tower
Our apartment was directly opposite the Sky Tower – opposite the SkyJump area to be more precise. It was quite disconcerting; every now and then a body came hurtling past the window.
For the less adventurous/foolhardy, it is possible to visit the interior of the Sky Tower. With an official height of 329 metres, it is offically the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest building – although much of this height is courtesy of the pointy bit on the top. The viewing platform is actually 192 metres high and provides views across the city and beyond.
Options for those with more money/less sense include the SkyJump (throwing yourself off the tower attached to a wire), SkyWalk (walking round the edge of the tower) and SkySlide (sliding round the exterior of the tower in a glass tube).
The Sky Tower is in a complex named Sky City, which contains a hotel, casino, restaurants, the All Blacks Experience and Weta Workshop (immersive make-believe film sets). It feels a bit like Las Vegas’ down-and-out cousin. To be honest, in my opinion, the Sky Tower is best viewed from a distance. Especially at night, when it is illuminated.
The Sky Tower is open daily from 9.30 am until 8 pm (8.30 pm at weekends). Tickets for the observation deck start from $38.
No 2 – Take a stroll round Aotea Square
The enormous Aotea Square is a popular location for festivals, parades and music events and is capable of holding up to 20,000 people. At the entrance is a Māori gateway. There is also a fountain and several sculptures of notable New Zealanders.
The square is surrounded by public buildings, such as the Town Hall, the Aotea Centre and the Civic Theatre.
No 3 – Enjoy the art at Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Art Gallery is located in the corner of Albert Park. The building itself is a 19th century château with a modern wood and glass atrium. It houses an extensive collection of national and international art.
When we visited, the ticket prices for foreigners were quite expensive, which seemed unfair as New Zealanders can visit British museums and galleries for free. So, we admired the building and the public sculptures outside and moved on to Albert Park.
The gallery is open daily from 10 am until 5 pm. Entry is currently free.
No 4 – Wander through Albert Park
Albert Park is a large Victorian park with formal gardens, sculptures and fountains.
It also has some very impressive old trees.
No 5 – Walk along Queen’s Wharf
From the park, head towards the waterfront. You can walk along the 350 metre long Queen’s Wharf, past the original 1910 building, Shed 10 and the more recent Cloud (built to house a fanzone for the 2011 Rugby World Cup) to the Lighthouse at the end.
The Lighthouse is actually an artwork by Michael Parekōwhai. Its exterior is a replica of a 1950s family home, while the interior features a light installation.
No 6 – Enjoy the vibe in Viaduct Harbour
The fancy waterfront area of Viaduct Harbour was given a makeover before hosting the Americas Cup in 2000. It is lined with bars and restaurants and buzzing with activity.
No 7 – Relax in the Wynyard Quarter
At the edge of Viaduct Harbour, you can walk across the bridge into the Wynyard Quarter. Here, there are yet more bars and restaurants. Or you can just wander round, enjoy the atmosphere and admire the yachts and the various pieces of public art.
No 8 – Take a ferry to Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island is the second largest and most populated island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. It’s a lovely day out for two reasons; (1) the scenery is beautiful and (2) the island is covered with wineries.
The ferry departs every 30-60 minutes for the 35 minute crossing. Fares star from $44 for an off peak return. Exact details can be found here.
No 9 – Explore Waiheke Island on a Bus Tour
The ferry drops you on the western side of the island. It is possible to book tours or Hop-on-hop-off Explorer Bus tickets. But ever the cheapskates, we decided to catch the regular bus. Several buses stop at the ferry terminal, so it is possible to do a circuit of a big chunk of the island from there.
There are, of course, plenty of great restaurants on Waiheke Island. Or you could just pick up some produce from a store and have a picnic in half an upturned boat with a beautiful view of the island.
No 10 – Drink wine at Goldie Estate
Goldie Estate vineyard which has a cellar door where you can taste their excellent produce. Wine is served on a patio on a hillside overlooking the vineyard.
Goldie Estate claims to specialise in ‘Wine Science’. I think I would be a good wine scientist…
Goldie Estate Cellar Door is open from Wednesday to Saturday between 12 pm and 4 pm.
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
- Trip taken: March 2018
- Updated: August 2024
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